A new park honoring the three Schaffhausen girls, who were killed in River Falls last year, is one step closer to reality thanks to an auction of the girls' art that brought in several thousand dollars.

Many turned out and others called in from across the country to bid on the art last month at Gallery 120 in River Falls. A little more than $7,000 ultimately was raised for the park, which will memorialize 11-year-old Amara, Sophie, 8, and Cecilia, 5.

That brings the funds raised for the Tri-Angels Playground to more than $100,000, said Victoria Schmitt Babb, community engagement director for Unlimited Play, the nonprofit group raising money for and building the playground.

"It has exceeded our expectations," Schmitt Babb said. "So many people came out and paid a really nice sum."

More than 300 people visited Gallery 120 on opening night, making it the gallery's largest opening in its five-year history, said owner Ila June Brown-Pratt. She added that many people chose to give a donation rather than bid on the art.

Brown-Pratt said the most a piece of artwork sold for was $1,000.

"I guess in some ways I'm surprised and in other ways I'm not," she said of the sum. "The community has just opened up their hearts and wallets to make sure that the girls' memory goes on by having the playground."

More artworks by the girls are expected to hit eBay in the coming weeks. Unlimited Play also will be offering businesses and corporations opportunities to sponsor the playground, Schmitt Babb said.

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In addition to the more than $100,000 in donations, $120,000 worth of materials has been pledged.

"If those pledges come in, we're a little under the 50 percent mark," Schmitt Babb said. "And we just officially launched last month, so we're definitely right on track."

The more than 7,000 square-foot playground will be handicapped accessible and will feature sections devoted to each of the girls. Its location is not final.

A fundraising goal of $555,000 has been set for the project, which is expected to be built by 2015.

An additional chunk of funding is expected to come from the sale of land on which the house where the girls were killed now sits.

Dave Larson, interim president and CEO of Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union in St. Paul, which owns the property, said Tuesday that the house will be disassembled beginning Monday.

Salvageable items from the house will be donated to the St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity and the lot will be sold, with proceeds going to the Tri-Angels playground.

"As an organization we really do live by the philosophy of wanting to do what's right," Larson said. "We've had a number of conversations throughout this process with Jessica Schaffhausen and her family ... and we wanted to honor their wishes."

A number of companies working in the dismantling process are donating their services, he added. The process is expected to take about a week.

The Schaffhausen girls were killed in River Falls last summer. Their father, Aaron Schaffhausen, is serving three life sentences for the crimes, which prosecutors say were committed to hurt the girls' mother, his ex-wife.